Crusher adjustment

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a bidirectional ram structure for rotating a rotatably adjustable bowl in relation to the main frame of a crusher. The invention includes means for normally holding the bowl against unintended rotary movement, and means for rotating the bowl alternatively in opposite rotational directions, depending upon whether the operator desires to increase or to diminish the clearance between the bowl and head of a gyrated head crusher.

United States Patent Inventors Rudolph J. Gasparac;

Arnold P. Szaj, Milwaukee, Wis.

Appl. No. 834,197 Filed June 2, 1969 Patented Mar. 16, 1971 Assignee Nordberg Manufacturing Company Milwaukee, Wis.

CRUSHER ADJUSTMENT 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 241/207 Int. Cl B02c 2/00, B24b 41/04, B02c 23/00 Field of Search 241/207,

2l0,2ll,213,2l6,218,219, 286, 290

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,009,660 11/1961 Symons et al 241 /207X 3,133,708 5/1964 Bond et aL... 241/290 3,142,449 7/1964 Balmer..... 241/286 3,396,915 8/1968 Allen 241/290 Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Attorney-Parker, Carter & Markey ABSTRACT: The invention relates to a bidirectional ram structure for rotating a rotatably adjustable bowl in relation to the main frame of a crusher. The invention includes means for normally holding the bowl against unintended rotary movement, and means for rotating the bowl alternatively in opposite rotational directions, depending upon whether the operator desires to increase or to diminish the clearance between the bowl and head of a gyrated head crusher.

CRUSEIER ADJUSTMENT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an improvement in crushers having gyrated heads and, in particular, to a system of bowl adjustment for use on a gyratory crusher or the like.

A primary purpose of the invention is to provide means for rotating the crusher bowl in relation to the main frame of such a crusher.

Another purpose is improved means for rotating the bowl, for adjustment, in either direction of rotation.

Another purpose is an improved adjusting structure in which a plurality of rams may be employed, including rams positioned to exert a generally tangential thrust against the bowl in either of the two directions of rotation.

Another purpose is a system in which a ram or rams may be employed for rotating the bowl in one direction of rotation, while insuring that the ram or rams which could be used for rotating it in the opposite direction are kept temporarily inoperative.

Another purpose is means for preventing an unintended contact of any ram or rams with the bowl.

Another purpose is means effective when a particular ram is in inoperative position to prevent it from moving into contact with the bowl.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification, drawings, and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. llis a perspective of a part of a cone crusher showing the adjustment arrangement, and including a hydraulic diagram;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the crusher illustrated in FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 3 is a section along line 33 of FIG. 2.

In cone crushers of the type herein disclosed, it is conventional to have a bowl which defines the upper side or outside of the crushing cavity, which surrounds the gyrated head, and which is adjustably mounted on the crusher frame. It is also conventional to have an adjustment ring which may be releasably positioned on the top of the crusher frame and in which a suitable bowl member is threadably mounted so that, as the bowl member is rotated, it moves the bowl or bowl liner, which actually defines the crushing cavity, to compensate for wear or the like. The present invention relates to an improved system of adjustment for the bowl, which permits quick and ready rotation of the bowl or bowl member in either direction of rotation.

In FIG. 1, a crusher, which may be any type of cone crusher, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,449, issued Jul. 28, 1964, and having a gyrated head, has a main-frame with an upper outwardly extending flange upon which is mounted a ring, which may be described as an adjustment ring and is indicated at 14. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the ring 14 normally against movement in relation to the main frame. A plurality of spring assemblies may be used, which may be circumferentially positioned around the crusher frame and which yieldingly hold an adjustment ring downwardly against the frame. It is necessary to hold the adjustment ring and bowl yieldingly in relation to the frame so that when tramp iron or uncrushable material passes through the crushing cavity, the bowl can tilt upwardly from the gyrated head in order to pass this material.

The bowl is normally threaded in the adjustment ring 14 so that rotation of the bowl or bowl member on the ring 14 moves the bowl up and down on the crusher frame to vary the size of the crushing setting. A major purpose is to compensate for wear of the bowl liner and the mantle.

The adjustment ring 14 may mount a rotaty cap 30 which may include an upwardly extending sidewall 32 and a cover or top 34 which should be integral with the wall 32. The cover 34 is shown as mounting a plurality of piston and cylinder assemblies 36. These assemblies are designed to provide an upthrust to the bowl such that any play or-clearance in the threads between the bowl and the adjustment ring is always at the bottom of the bowl threads, the threads being always in firm contact, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,449. The cap and bowl rotate together in the manner shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,133,708.

Mounted about the periphery of the crusher are one or more ram assemblies. Each assembly includes two rams oppositely directed so that one set of rams, when actuated, will be effective to rotate the bowl member in one direction of rotation while the opposite ram, when actuated, will be effective to rotate the bowl member in the opposite direction. If desired, another ram assembly located diametrically opposite could work in conjunction with the first assembly to provide a more uniform load. Thus, in the accompanying drawings, two ram assemblies are indicated, each such assembly being constituted by a ram 44 positioned to impart a clockwise rotation to the bowl member, referring to the position of the parts in FIG. 2, while the other 44a is positioned to impart a counterclockwise rotation to the bowl. The pairs of rams are mounted on an outer extension or bracket on the adjustment or tilting ring, such a bracket being indicated at 14a in FIGS. 1 and 2. 5

Although hydraulic rams are shown and the system is herein described as a hydraulic system, it will be understood that in some applications the rams may be air or gas operated. Each ram includes a cylinder 46 having an operating head or extension 47 which is adapted to engage a toothed driver ring 48 mounted on the exterior of the cap 30. In practice, in the particular illustration shown, each ram will move forward until its central web 50 contacts one of the teeth 52 on the driver ring and thus rotates the ring in the intended direction. The details of this driving connection may be widely varied. The web 50 is bounded by flat surfaces 54 on its upper and lower edges, the surfaces 54 extending beyond the outside edge of the ring 48. The surfaces 54 embrace the upper and lower sides of the outside edge of the ring 48 and are effective to prevent twisting or turning of the fork thus provided. We also show an additional guide or centering means in the form of a piston 47a mounted on the operating head 47 and entering a guide cylinder 46a mounted on an upper portion of the cylinder 46. Thus, the fork or operating head or extension 47 is kept in its desired orientation.

In order to lock the ring 48 and the bowl to the adjustment ring, a lock structure 55 may be provided, including a pivotal arm 56 extending toward its corresponding ram. The arm 56 may be mounted on a suitable post or the like 58 and is biased by a coil spring 60 inwardly toward the bowl and the ring 48. The spring 60 may be wound around the post 58 as illustrated in FIG. R. It will be understood also that the rams 44 and 44a may be mounted on posts 68 and may be biased by coil springs inwardly toward the bowl and toward the ring 48.

The arm 56 may have an inner cam face 62 which is opposed to one of the rams and may have an irregular central web 64 with a comer 65 which abuts the surface 54. The web 64 may be bounded by upper and lower surfaces which extend inwardly beyond the outer edge of the ring 48, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,449. In operation, as soon as the appropriate ram starts its movement to rotate the ring, the front surface of the ram will contact the cam surface 62 of the arm 56 and rotate the arm out of contact with the driven ring 48 and thus release it.

In the at rest position of the rams, the leading edge of the web 50 is spaced somewhat from the next tooth 52 on the ring 48. Also, the upper and lower flat surfaces 54 are practically in contact with the cam faces 62 on the lock structure. Thus, during the initial excursion of the ram, the web 50 will merely slide along the ring 4h. But during this initial excursion, prior to the contacting of the tooth 52 by the web 50, the flat surfaces 54 of the ram will begin contact with the cam face 62 of the lock structure and will cam it out. The initial movement of the ram can be referred to as a dead or idling stroke, the object being first to release the lock. The lock may be located at 44 to prevent opposite locking should the crusher have opposite countershaft rotation. Only after the bowl has been unlocked does the appropriate ram contact one of the teeth of the ring 48, to apply a thrust to the bowl. A limit switch or similar device may be provided, for cooperation with the lock arm, to actuate any suitable signal for automated operation.

With reference to the association of oppositely directed rams which form part of each ram assembly, it will be understood that they are independently and rotatably mounted on posts 68, the parts being so arranged that the appropriate spring 70 will bias each ram into position to engage the ring 48. However, only the ram or rams which direct a clockwise adjusting rotation are permitted to operate, when a clockwise rotation is desired. At that time the counterclockwise operating rams must be withdrawn to inoperative position and must be entirely out of contact with the ring 48. The reverse is true when a counterclockwise rotation is desired.

As shown in FIG. 2, when an appropriate use of fluid pressure is provided to withdraw the inoperative rams, the member 47 is completely out of contact with the ring 48. For convenience, each ram is mounted in a bracket 71 rotatable in relation to one of the posts 68, the ram cylinder 46 being pivoted as at 72. In order to limit the rotation of the rams toward the ring 48, or in order to maintain them in a predetermined position of approach to the ring, suitable stops 75 are provided on the brackets 14a, against which each of the rams is held by its spring 70. As a matter of convenience, we mount the rams in brackets 71 on the posts 68 and these brackets serve both to mount the rams and to position the axes of the rams in relation to the ring 48 as the springs 70 rotate the brackets against the stops 75.

In relation to the actuation of the rams, it will be understood that any suitable fluid power system may be used. However, it is found advantageous to use hydraulic pressure and to provide any suitable means for insuring that only the ram or rams will be actuated which tend to rotate the bowl in the desired direction of rotation. In the summary diagram of FIG. 1, it will be observed that an open setting duct 100 is used for extension that a second duct 101 is used for retraction, and that a third duct 102 is used for extension at close setting. The appropriate connections are illustrated with the connections or ducts A, C, E and G being employed for one group of rams and the companion connections B, D, F and H being employed for the opposite group of rams. It will be understood that any suitable control means may be employed for insuring that only the ram or rams necessary for the desired direction of rotation will at any one time be advanced to assert a rotating thrust against the ring 48. FIG. 3 illustrates typical connections for an individual cylinder with an extension connection 102 and a retraction connection 101, which keys into the diagrammatic hydraulic circuit showing of FIG. 1.

We realize that whereas we have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. We wish the description and drawings, therefore, to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting us to the specific structure herein shown. For example, whereas we have described the rams as pivoted for rotation and as spring urged toward the ring 48, it will be understood that the rams under some circumstances may be fixed and may contact the ring 48 by intermediate flexible or rotary actuating or con necting elements. The details of the hydraulic circuit are not of themselves important, it being, however, important that suitable control means be employed for obtaining the above described operation of the hydraulic system.

Whereas we have shown two sets of rams, two rams to a set, 180 apart, in certain applications it might be desirable to spread the sets so that each ram is about 90 from the others, arranged in a more or less quadrant formation. In this arrangement, two rams 180 apart would be directed to rotate the bowl in one direction and the other two, also 180 apart, would be directed to rotate it in the other direction. In the arrangement shown where the rams are in sets of two each, we have shown the two rams in a set directed in opposite directions. And it should be understood that they might be spread somewhat and directed toward each other in certain applications. Also, we prefer that the rams be apart so that the inward component of force of the thrust from one ram is counterbalanced by an equal and opposite inward component of for-ce from another ram. But in certain applications this might not be necessary. For example, we might have merely a single set of two rams, oppositely directed, and positioned on one side of the crusher with nor rams on the other side, although this is not recommended. If only two such rams are used, they might be directly adjacent each other, directed away from or toward each other, or they might be spaced somewhat up to a 180 separation.

In any event, one of the important aspects of the invention is that the rams are constructed so that when they are retracted, the nose is out of contact with the bowl. Thus, when a ram is retracted and deenergized, it will not block or prevent the bowl from being rotated in the other direction, and vice versa.

We claim:

1. In an adjusting assembly for crushers having a gyrated head, a circumferential main frame, and a bowl rotatable in relation to the main frame for adjustment in relation thereto, means for rotating the bowl, for adjustment, in relation to the main frame, including a ram assembly adapted for rotating the bowl in opposite rotational directions, said assembly including two separate ram means supported on the main frame and oppositely positioned relative to the periphery of the bowl, and formed for thrusting contact with the bowl in generally tangential but divergently directed thrusts, each such ram means being pivoted for rotation about a vertical axis, liquid pressure means including a duct system common to the two ram means and including means for applying liquid pressure selectively to one of the ram means while the other ram means is idle.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including rams each having a cylinder in communication with the liquid pressure applying means, and a piston carrying a contact portion adapted to engage the bowl, and guiding means including cooperating parts adapted to prevent rotation of the contact portion in relation to the cylinder.

3. The structure of claim 1 including yielding means tending normally to rotate the rams toward the bowl, and means for limiting the rotation of such rams toward the bowl, when idle, to a predetermined position of approach.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including means causing each ram means to be out of contact with the bowl when fully retracted.

5. In an adjusting assembly for crushers having a gyrated head, a circumferential main frame, and a bowl rotatable in relation to the main frame for adjustment in relation thereto, means for rotating the bowl, for adjustment in relation to the main frame, including a rotator assembly adapted for rotating the bowl in opposite directions, said assembly including two separate rotating means on the main frame and oppositely positioned relative to the periphery of the bowl, and formed for thrusting contact with the bowl in generally tangentially directed thrusts, each such rotating means being pivoted about a vertical axis and including a piston carrying a contact portion adapted to engage the bowl, spring means biasing each piston and its contact portion toward the bowl, a pair of stops adjacent the rotator assembly, and each positioned to prevent contact between the contact portion of a piston and the bowl when the piston is fully retracted, liquid pressure means including a duct system common to the two rotating means and including means for applying liquid pressure selectively to one of the rotating means while the other rotating means is idle.

6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized by and including an outwardly extending bracket upon which the rotating means are adjacently supported, said pair of stops are positioned upon said bracket and between said rotating means.

7. In an adjusting assembly for crushers having a gyrated head, a circumferential main frame, and a bowl rotatable in relation to the main frame for adjustment in relation thereto, means for rotating the bowl for adjustment in relation to the main frame including a ram assembly adapted for rotating the bowl in opposite directions of rotation, said assembly including two separate ram means supported on the main frame and oppositely positioned relativeto the periphery of the bowl, and formed for thrusting contact with the bowl in generally tangentially directed thrusts, and means causing each ram means to be out of contact with the bowl when retracted.

8. The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that the ram means are positioned adjacent each other.

9. The structure of claim' 7 further characterized in that the ram means are positioned adjacent each other and are oppositely directed.

10. The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that the last mentioned means includes spring means biasing each ram means toward the bowl, and a stop for each ram means constructed and positioned to be contacted by the ram means during its pivotal movement under influence of the spring means prior to full retraction thereof such that upon full retraction the contacting portion of the ram means will move out of contact with the bowl.

. g;;g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION lnventoi-(s) Ruldolph J. Gasparac and Arnold P. Szaj It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

The following matter was omited in the issued patent:

This is a continuation-in-part of Serial abandoned.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of July 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Rene Tegtmeyer Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patent: 

1. In an adjusting assembly for crushers having a gyrated head, a circumferential main frame, and a bowl rotatable in relation to the main frame for adjustment in relation thereto, means for rotating the bowl, for adjustment, in relation to the main frame, including a ram assembly adapted for rotating the bowl in opposite rotational directions, said assembly including two separate ram means supported on the main frame and oppositely positioned relative to the periphery of the bowl, and formed for thrusting contact with the bowl in generally tangential but divergently directed thrusts, each such ram means being pivoted for rotation about a vertical axis, liquid pressure means including a duct system common to the two ram means and including means for applying liquid pressure selectively to one of the ram means while the other ram means is idle.
 2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including rams each having a cylinder in communication with the liquid pressure applying means, and a piston carrying a contact portion adapted to engage the bowl, and guiding means including cooperating parts adapted to prevent rotation of the contact pOrtion in relation to the cylinder.
 3. The structure of claim 1 including yielding means tending normally to rotate the rams toward the bowl, and means for limiting the rotation of such rams toward the bowl, when idle, to a predetermined position of approach.
 4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including means causing each ram means to be out of contact with the bowl when fully retracted.
 5. In an adjusting assembly for crushers having a gyrated head, a circumferential main frame, and a bowl rotatable in relation to the main frame for adjustment in relation thereto, means for rotating the bowl, for adjustment in relation to the main frame, including a rotator assembly adapted for rotating the bowl in opposite directions, said assembly including two separate rotating means on the main frame and oppositely positioned relative to the periphery of the bowl, and formed for thrusting contact with the bowl in generally tangentially directed thrusts, each such rotating means being pivoted about a vertical axis and including a piston carrying a contact portion adapted to engage the bowl, spring means biasing each piston and its contact portion toward the bowl, a pair of stops adjacent the rotator assembly, and each positioned to prevent contact between the contact portion of a piston and the bowl when the piston is fully retracted, liquid pressure means including a duct system common to the two rotating means and including means for applying liquid pressure selectively to one of the rotating means while the other rotating means is idle.
 6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized by and including an outwardly extending bracket upon which the rotating means are adjacently supported, said pair of stops are positioned upon said bracket and between said rotating means.
 7. In an adjusting assembly for crushers having a gyrated head, a circumferential main frame, and a bowl rotatable in relation to the main frame for adjustment in relation thereto, means for rotating the bowl for adjustment in relation to the main frame including a ram assembly adapted for rotating the bowl in opposite directions of rotation, said assembly including two separate ram means supported on the main frame and oppositely positioned relative to the periphery of the bowl, and formed for thrusting contact with the bowl in generally tangentially directed thrusts, and means causing each ram means to be out of contact with the bowl when retracted.
 8. The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that the ram means are positioned adjacent each other.
 9. The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that the ram means are positioned adjacent each other and are oppositely directed.
 10. The structure of claim 7 further characterized in that the last mentioned means includes spring means biasing each ram means toward the bowl, and a stop for each ram means constructed and positioned to be contacted by the ram means during its pivotal movement under influence of the spring means prior to full retraction thereof such that upon full retraction the contacting portion of the ram means will move out of contact with the bowl. 